Best recording labels for orchestral music


I am in the process of building my music library. Some of my favorite composers are Holst, Copland, Gershwin, and Ravel to name a few. The problem is I'm not sure which recording label to go with on these and other artists. For example I have a recording of Holst's Planets performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by John Williams. The recoding label is Decca. This has got to be one of the best recordings I've heard of this piece of music.
My question is this: Are there specific recording labels to stay away from and which in your opinion are the better ones to look at?

Thanks.
128x128foehn

Showing 1 response by foehn

Thanks for all the input so far.

In response to Steveott. Best recorded version would be what I am saying. There seems to be an enormous amount of dynamic swings throughout that I haven't heard on some of my other orchestral cds. I do understand that different conductors and orchestras can play a major role in the interpretation of the composers work.

Just a side note as well.

Do any of you feel that the first performance of a piece of music, recorded or live, becomes the benchmark for other versions you may hear of the same piece. For example I heard Rhapsody In Blue for the first time about 15 years ago and loved it. I don't remember the conductor or orchestra used to perform it. Then a few years later I got a hold of another version and didn't like it very much. (The tempo was much faster for one and it didn't seem as grand as I had once remembered it to be.) Do any of you have any input on this.

Back to the subject.

Where do you all get your classical cd's from anyways. Where I live (Kansas City) there is Best Buy, Circuit City and for the most part thats about it. What are some other avenues I can pursue.

Thanks.